Matsunoki

Perfectly correct. Back in my dealing days I encountered many such netsuke and I also had several in my collection. I don’t think this is “late” though. The colour/patina and rather heavy wear suggest early-mid 19thC. This style utilised cheap off-cuts of ivory where a flaw was discovered (ie the visible hairline circumferential crack). They were intended to sit flat right on top of the Obi with the flat underside downwards meaning they were upright and looking outwards. They are nearly always depicting assorted historical or mythical figures and you even find mounted (horse) examples. They also crop up in boxwood.

Brian…typo?..Holy??

Ciro, don’t know if this helps but I bought this one for £120…..but yours is better. If it was in the UK I’d buy it.

Jonathan, personally, based on these images I would not even consider purchasing it even if the price was tempting. what does the vendor say?…..or what does he not say….that often tells you a lot more.

Jonathan It’s not hagire as it is not through the ha (edge) but seems to emanate from the exact juncture of the mune and nakago. I’ve never seen this feature before. Unless it’s a simple scratch I’d say it’s pretty bad news. Can you feel it with fingernail?

Hi Alex, I emailed them but I wasn’t very polite. They expect to take an extra 25% Buyers Premium from the poor sod that gets caught🤬🤬Makes me a tad mad.

Maybe owning a Tanto during those times was often also simply a matter of “pride/pleasure of ownership”…..harking back to the days of the Samurai. A nice Tanto had always been a desirable/treasured object. And, like gendaito vs showato…….they bought what they could afford. I look after Tanto by Horii Toshihide and Watanabe Kanenaga, both dated 1937 suggesting good quality was in demand years before the war kicked off…..and that the top smiths of the day were happy to meet that demand? Just some musings. Best. Colin

Possibly “peace”…..butterfly lands on folded war-fan? Just a thought.

There’s a rebellion mounted rusty katana in the same sale. Same type of BS description. Worst I’ve ever seen in the UK.

Hi Ray….do you know who this idiot is? Bolton Auctions on thesaleroom.com

Don’t know whether to laugh, cry or phone the fraud squad. Don’t trample one another in the rush.

Dale, I was probably thinking of both of them…hence mixing up shape and subject!! I knew you’d be very familiar with them but some are so very well done they are scarily fooling auction houses as you illustrate(Bonhams etc) and also dealers. I was offered one by a dealer who “isn’t a dealer” on this forum! No names!!!!! But, when you “get your eye in” they are pretty obvious. Everyone beware! ….these are multi-patinated on an alloy base and not true mixed metal inlay. Some even have car paint on them. thanks Dale Colin

Howzat…

@SpartancrestThanks Dale, these have cropped up in UK auctions as well - with the inevitable sad result for someone. There is another famous big tsuba that has some very convincing “copies”. It’s large, I think of rounded square shape and depicts a ferocious Shoki chasing Oni. I’m remembering the design goes into the seppadai? Has that cropped up on the Forum? You memory far better than mine!

Eg https://www.artfund....ers-crossing-a-river or

The design could easily be interpreted as a tiger caught in a raging flooded river gorge. The presence of overhanging rocks, bamboo etc …seems more plausible to me??

Peter, hello. Thanks for looking. The scroll on the tsuba shows a man and woman on a quilt. .She appears to lie back on a pillow or cushion. He appears to wear a court cap. It looks like the start of a romantic encounter🙂 as depicted in many a shunga scroll. Is there anything specific that points to the Poets scroll? Were any “encounters” depicted? of course my interpretation could be wrong.

Hello all, posting this as usual for thoughts, interest etc….. It’s a lovely quality shakudo small wakizashi tsuba with rich inlay that at first seems quite simple and straightforward. We have a kimono stand with a luxurious kimono draped over it on the ura and continued onto the omote, then we have a large wash basin and apparently a sake cup. It’s not until you examine the very small inlaid partially unrolled scroll that you see without doubt it depicts the beginning of a shunga scroll. That changes things a bit🙂 I’ve seen a great many tsuba but never one hinting at such an encounter…..but then I’ve led a very sheltered life. I wonder if it represents an episode from The Tales of Genji? I’m amazed it doesn’t carry a “good” Mei. Quality is superb. Any views? Many thanks and all the best. Colin

For example….

Just a word of warning……some very nice “copies” of these presentation Yanone are being well made in India. Just put Yanone into ebay.com - it’s worth being aware.

Just an example of a fairly modern itomaki koshirae that on its own made over £10k. Looks a bit later than mid 19thC to me….?….but still very nice. https://www.bonhams....-mid-19th-century-2/

Good luck John. “Wish I was there”.🙂

Blimey that took me back a bit!🙂

What does the description say, and what doesn’t it say?

Hello from the UK I know this is off topic and it’s a really big ask but can anyone help me with this seal from a beautiful early Edo painting? Many thanks. Colin.